ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Sacred Law's sources are four: the Qur'an, the Sunnah, consensus, and analogy. Certainly, the Qur'an is the most authoritative. In fact, Zarkashi related from al-Qaffal al-Shashi that the Sacred Law is based on just one: the Qur'an; the others, like the Sunnah, clarify its legislation. The Qur'an is the final revelation; sent from God and delivered by the Prophet (SAW). Through its beautiful verses, it communicates Gods words, the divine legislation.
In Islam, man does not legislate. The authority is exclusively God's right. The scholars' duty is to know his commands by studying the sources. When a scholar embarks on this task, he relies on a set of principles: Usul al-Fiqh. Many wrote books in this subject; al-Shafi'i was the first. The as-hab al-Wujuh followed his methodology because they found it reliable, the best possible means by which to understand the ultimate legislative source.

Ilkiya al-Harrasi said:
"I found al-Shafi'is School to be the strongest, closest to the right path, and most judicious. The insight of al-shafi'i, found in almost all his opinions and research, lifts one from mere guesswork and conjecture to knowing the truth with certainty."

The as-hab al-Wujuh continued what Imam Shafi'i pioneered; from amongst them is the erudite jurist Ima al-Haramayn al-Juwayni. From the treasures his noble pen left behind, awaiting seekers of knowledge from all generations to come, that they may discover a treasure more precious than gold, is the introductory level textbook, al-Waraqat. - from Amzon